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The work of a certified Kirkland real estate specialist can help you find the best home for your needs or help you sell your home for the right price. This only means that you will have to find the best agent out there to ensure the best results. However, there are quite a few mistakes a first-time home buyer can create when hiring a real estate agent. Below are several mistakes that a person should avoid at all costs.

Hiring the First Agent You See

As with most cases, hiring the very first agent you see on the local directory is never a good idea. The reason for this is that you are severely limiting your choices and prospects. Though there is a chance that the first agent you see is actually good, there might be another agent out there who can charge less for the same quality. Shopping around for agents will be a good way of widening your prospects.

Ask around for at least three referrals and know how much the agent charges in commissions. Also, ask around to see how long your prospective agents have been in business and the quality of their work. Keep in mind that the house is one of your biggest assets. Thus, you need to make an educated decision in hiring an agent.

Hiring a Friend

Family and friendship do not ideally mix with business. Hiring someone based on their familial relationship with you is never a good idea as there will always be biases when it comes to the transactions. Plus, you are also limiting the choices opened to you when you only hire anyone from your circle of friends and family. If you do decide to hire a family member or friend as a real estate agent, make sure you do so on the basis of their credentials and expertise in the field; not their degree of closeness to you.

Employing the Lowest Bidder

Hiring by price alone is never a good idea when you are looking for an agent to help you sell your home. Keep in mind that the costs for advertising and marketing a house will be quite expensive. The commission of an agent will help him advertise the property to reach out to a considerable number of prospective buyers. The lower commission a agent demands, the lesser money will be available for marketing. Always remember that a house will only be sold quickly with the help of a qualified agent. Thus, it is best to the best in the industry, not the cheapest.

Hiring Based On the Suggested List Price

It can be quite flattering to hear that your house has a higher value than most homes in the neighborhood. Ideally, a high price for a home will be a win-win situation for both buyer and agent. However, setting the price too high might cause the offer to sit in the market for a few months, making you lose more money in the process. Make sure that you hire a certified Kirkland real estate specialist who has in-depth knowledge of your local real estate market. This will allow the agent to come up with a price that is realistic to the market yet profitable for you.